The course content comprises three main sections:
1) Industrial chemistry at large: the structure of the chemical and petrochemical industry, from raw materials to fine chemicals. Process flow diagram and process units within an industrial plant; unit operations and chemical reactors. Basic operations and raw products in oil refinery. Conversion, yield, selectivity, but also safety, waste production, energy consumption and other production cost factors as the main criteria to be considered in the design and operation of an industrial chemical process.
2) Macromolecular chemistry and industrial polymerizations. The chemistry and kinetics of polymer synthesis will be presented in detail, along with selected examples of industrial polymerization processes, including examples of homogeneous and heterogeneous ones. Descriptive chemistry of colloidal systems and of its relevance in several industrial applications. The main structural characterization techniques and introductory concepts of polymer properties (thermal, mechanical, rheological in bulk and solution) relevant to different polymer applications and processing technologies will also be discussed.
3) Introductory concepts of sustainable chemistry and sustainable chemical industry. Key points in the assessment of the safety and environmental viability of a chemical production and process technology. The biorefinery concept and the newly developing chemical industry from renewable resources.